Soft penalty appalls Southgate

07 December 2008 01:42

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate was unhappy with the late dismissal of David Wheater as his side lost 2-1 at Hull City on Saturday.
The young defender was sent off for a challenge on Geovanni inside the penalty area from which Marlon King slotted home the winning goal from the spot.
Southgate was upset by the decision though, saying after the defeat: "It looks like a very soft penalty and it looks to me like it was offside when the ball was played.
"However, we should have got on with it and been goal-side once it's not been given.
"It also looks as though it was a very harsh sending-off. He's going away from the goal and was going wide.
"However, it's pointless getting involved in what the referee does. We can't be distracted by that. We've lost and we've got to take it.
"I don't think we were at our best but I don't think they did enough to beat us.
"It looked like it was heading for a draw and, when we go ahead, we've got to learn the most important time is after you score, you've got to consolidate that lead.
"To concede as quickly as we did throws the game back on its head and gets the crowd going again.
"It's a game that from that position we should win and we end up with nothing when at the very least we should have drawn it, so it's a huge disappointment."